Plant Sciences
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Identifying quality protein maize inbred lines for improved nutritional value of maize in Southern Africa
(MDPI, 2022)Malnutrition, as a result of deficiency in essential nutrients in cereal food products and consumption of a poorly balanced diet, is a major challenge facing millions of people in developing countries. However, developing ... -
The photosynthetic efficiency and carbohydrates responses of six edamame (Glycine max. L. Merrill) cultivars under drought stress
(MDPI, 2022)Vegetable-type soybean, also known as edamame, was recently introduced to South Africa. However, there is lack of information on its responses to drought. The aim of this study was to investigate the photosynthetic efficiency ... -
Defining the frontiers of synergism between cellulolytic enzymes for improved hydrolysis of lignocellulosic feedstocks
(MDPI, 2021)Lignocellulose has economic potential as a bio-resource for the production of value-added products (VAPs) and biofuels. The commercialization of biofuels and VAPs requires efficient enzyme cocktail activities that can lower ... -
Fusarium casha sp. nov. and F. curculicola sp. nov. in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex isolated from Amaranthus cruentus and three weevil species in South Africa
(MDPI, 2021)Trials are currently being conducted in South Africa to establish Amaranthus cruentus as a new pseudocereal crop. During recent surveys, Fusarium species were associated with weevil damage in A. cruentus fields. Preliminary ... -
Inoculation techniques and evaluation methodologies for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum head and stem rot in sunflower and soybean
(University of the Free State, 2018-01)Sclerotinia stem and head rot on soybean and sunflower are caused by the fungal plant pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This pathogen can be responsible for up to 75.0% yield loss. A major constraint in the effective ... -
Genetic variability of carotenoids and polypoid induction towards vitamin A biofortification in plantain (Musa spp.)
(University of the Free State, 2018-07)Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the most prevalent nutrient deficiencies affecting the health of resource-poor populations in developing countries. Plantains (Musa spp. AAB) are a specific group of bananas, which serve ... -
Characterisation of the physiological, biochemical and molecular responses of sorghum to drought stress
(University of the Free State, 2018-11)Drought is a major threat to global food security due to its detrimental effects on plant growth, productivity and yield quality. Many climatic models are predicting the increasing duration and severity of drought episodes. ... -
The influence of sorghum physiology on rhizosphere interactions and their effect on root disease
(University of the Free State, 2018)This study evaluated and investigated sorghum allelopathy and its various effects on microbial populations in the rhizosphere and effect of soil-borne pathogens. The effect of sorghum allelopathic extracts on rhizosphere ... -
Molecular responses of sorghum cell suspension cultures to high temperature stress
(University of the Free State, 2018-12)High temperatures and frequent drought episodes limit plant growth and development. Ultimately, low crop yields are realised and food insecurity follows. Therefore, there is a need to develop crops that can tolerate extreme ... -
A comparative physiological, proteomic and biochemical analysis of sorghum seedlings under salt stress
(University of the Free State, 2018-11)Soil salinity negatively affects plant growth and development, causing crop losses, worldwide. Understanding plant response mechanisms towards salt stress is thus an important step in ensuring food security. Sorghum [Sorghum ... -
Vegetation ecology of Soetdoring Nature Reserve: pan, grassland and karroid communities
(University of the Free State, 2002-09)English: The main aim of this study was to identify, classify, describe and ecologically interpret the plant communities and their variations for the pans, grassland and karroid grassland of Soetdoring Nature Reserve and ... -
Water quality of the Modder River
(University of the Free State, 1998-11)English: The Modder River is a relatively small river which drains an area of 7 960 km² , in the central region of the Free State Province, South Africa and has a mean annual runoff of 184 x 10⁶ m³ . Botshabelo is a city ... -
Assessing genetic diversity and identification of Microcystis aeruginosa strains through AFLP and peRRFLP analyses.
(University of the Free State, 2003-12)English: There are 150 cyanobacterial genera and approximately 2 000 species known in the world. More than 40 of these have toxin producing strains. Cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, are often present ... -
Genetic diversity analysis of linseed (linum usitatissimum L.) in different environments
(University of the Free State, 2002-11)English: The study was carried out to assess the genetic diversity of 60 linseed accessions mainly collected from Ethiopia in different environments using morphological and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) ... -
Assessment of South African bread wheat cultivars for milling quality
(University of the Free State, 2003)English: The objectives of this research were to assess South African winter and facultative bread wheat cultivars for milling quality, to study the effect of genotype x environment interaction on the stability of the ... -
An investigation into the possible causes of decline in the Acacia Erioloba population of the Kathu area
(University of the Free State, 2001)English: Concerned residents have been reporting a decline in the A. erioloba population of the Kathu area to the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Service (NCNCS) since the early 1980's. This is the third study on this ... -
An assessment of endophytic fungi in needles of three pinus spp. cultivated in South Africa
(University of the Free State, 1999-11)English: Endophytes, in the strict sense, are organisms that cause symptom less infections in plants. As symptomless mutualists, they can act as biocontrol agents of herbivorous insects and plant diseases. They can also ... -
'n Ondersoek na die antibakteriese eienskappe van Carpobrotus edulis L.
(University of the Free State, 1999-11)English: In the folk medicine of South Africa, many traditional medicinal plants are used by both the rural and a small percentage of the city population. One of these plants is Carpobrotus edulis L. An investigation of ... -
Water quality of the upper Orange River
(University of the Free State, 2000-05)English: The Upper Orange River is defined as the region between the source in the Drakensberg (Lesotho) and the Orange-Vaal confluence. Information on the water quality, phytoplankton composition and the influence of ... -
Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of different root extracts of Hermannia geniculata against human pathogens of medical importance
(University of the Free State (Qwaqwa Campus), 2015-12)Hermannia geniculata has been used widely as traditional medicine for treatment agai nst infectious human pathogens. The aim of the study was to determine the antibacterial and anti fungal activities of H. geniculata ...
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